ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 3-2 win over St. John's (Minn.) tonight at the National Hockey Center.

St. John's jumped out to a 1-0 in the first period on a Pat Connelly goal, assisted by Lance Wheeler. The Blugolds, however, would respond with a goal of its own with time winding down in the first. DJ Clark (Sr.-Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) recorded his first goal of the season, with Skylar Christoffersen (Jr.-Langley, B.C./Brookswood) picking up his first assist.

Eau Claire would then tack on two more goals in the second period to extend their lead to 3-1. Just 57 seconds into the period, Sean Garrity (Sr.-North St. Paul, Minn./North) found the net for his first goal of the season, with the assist coming from Greg Peterson (Sr.-Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace). At the 17:12 mark, the Blugolds put another score past the St. John's goalkeeper, this time coming from Joe Bluhm (Jr.- Red Wing, Minn.). It was Bluhm's second goal of the season, and the assist from Jesse Vesel (Sr.-Hibbing, Minn.) was his second of the season as well.

St. John's hoped for a comeback, pulling within one at the end of the second period on a goal by Jake Hipp. However, Eau Claire shut the door on the Johnnie's and did not allow a goal the rest of the game.Tyler Brigl (Jr.-Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) picked up the win in the net for the Blugolds. Brigl played all 60 minutes and allowed the two goals and made 15 saves.

Eau Claire returns to the ice tomorrow evening against Concordia (Minn.) in Moorhead, Minn. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-St. John's Results

- CL -